Far From Heaven

2003

US

1h 47min

12A

Directed by: Todd Haynes

Cast: Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert

In style and content, Haynes' film intentionally resembles the tearful melodramas made by Douglas Sirk in the 1950s. In these films, reputation takes precedence over emotion and feelings of love are consequently stamped out by the critical moralising of friends and family. Such is the case in Haynes' homage when Cathy (Moore) and Frank (Quaid) find themselves tempted by forbidden fruit in their particular Garden of Eden. Haynes uses the seeming innocence of the 50s to explore a topically resonant theme of how people are restricted by sexist and racist bigotry in a climate of complacent stability. A film of great depth and tragedy.